A Thai agricultural company has pledged to donate P10 million for President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and the government's rural development program, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said.

In a post on Facebook last March 23, Piñol said the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, headed by Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont, "will donate a modest amount of P10-M for President Duterte's campaign against drugs and for his rural development program."

Duterte met with Chearavanont, his son and new CEO of CP Group Suphachai and other executives of the CP Group, in Bangkok last week, according to Piñol.

Piñol also announced the CP Group had promised to invest $2 billion in the Philippines for hog and poultry production, which is seen to add more than 2,000 jobs.

"Chearavanont said CP Group has decided to pour more investments in the Philippines because of its distinction as the only country in the whole of Asia which is free from Foot and Mouth Disease and Avian Influenza or Bird Flu," Piñol said in his Facebook page.

Piñol said the CP Group already has businesses in Luzon and is eyeing to expand its operations in Visayas and Mindanao where typhoons occur less.

He added that "the hog and chicken production project of CP Group will be divided into 10 modules utilizing about 6,000 hectares per module for the production of corn and soybeans to be used in its feed production."
"This would mean a huge market for the country's corn farmers and the introduction of soybeans production to the Philippines," Piñol said.

Piñol mentioned that Chearavanont prefers a "compact area" where farmers can be taught the "modern technology in corn farming" for better production.

He said that Duterte had suggested to the CP Group the provinces of Bukidnon, Saranggani, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte as possible sites for their investment.
Piñol said Duterte thanked Chearavanont for the investment, quoting the President of his assurance of a corruption-free return on investment.

"One thing that I can assure you is that nobody will bother you. There will be no corruption under my administration and you will get the fair return of your investments in my country," the agriculture chief said quoting Duterte. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News